Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

“Don’t worry, Lu. I hope your father
will let you stay on here,” Evelyn said in an
affectionate tone; “but, indeed, I don’t
think you have any reason to envy me.”

She ended with so profound a sigh, that Lulu turned
a surprised, inquiring look upon her, asking, “Have
you had any bad news, Eva? I know you have been
looking anxiously for a letter from your mother.”

“Yes, it has come: I found it waiting for
me at Fairview, and”—­She paused for
a moment, her heart too full for speech.

“And it was bad news? Oh, I am so sorry!”
said Lulu. “I hope it wasn’t that
she wants you to go away from here—­unless
I have to go too, and we can be together somewhere.”

“No, it was not that—­not now.
Mamma knows that, because of the way papa made his
will, I must stay with uncle Lester till I come of
age. She talks of my going to her then; but I
cannot,—­oh, I never can! for,—­Lulu,
she’s married again, to an Italian count; and
it is not a year since my dear, dear father was taken
from us.”

Evelyn’s voice was tremulous with pain, and
she ended with a burst of bitter weeping.

“Oh, how could she!” exclaimed Lulu.
“I don’t wonder you feel so about it,
Eva. A horrid Italian too!” she added, thinking
of Signor Foresti. “I’d never call
him father!”

“Indeed, I’ve no idea of doing that,”
Eva said indignantly. “I only hope he may
never cross my path; and so I—­feel as if
my mother is lost to me. You are far better off
than I, Lulu: you have your own dear father still
living, and aunt Vi is so lovely and sweet.”

“Yes, I am better off than you,” Lulu
acknowledged emphatically; “and if I hadn’t
such a bad temper, always getting me into trouble,
I’d be a girl to be envied.”

CHAPTER X.

Lulu’ssentence.

Pending Capt. Raymond’s verdict in regard
to Lulu, life at Ion fell into the old grooves, for
her as well as the other members of the family.

Studies were taken up again by all the children, including
Evelyn Leland, where they had been dropped; Mr. Dinsmore
and his daughter giving instruction, and hearing recitations,
as formerly.

This interval of waiting lasted for over two months,
a longer period of silence on the part of the husband
and father than usual; but, as they learned afterward,
letters had been delayed in both going and coming.

Capt. Raymond, in his good ship, far out on the
ocean, was wearying for news from home, when his pressing
want was most opportunely supplied by a passing vessel.

She had a heavy mail for the man-of-war, and a generous
share of it fell to her commander.

He was soon seated in the privacy of his own cabin,
with Violet’s letter open in his hand.
It was sure to receive his attention before that of
any other correspondent.

With a swelling heart he read of the sore trial she
had been passing through, in the severe illness of
Gracie and the babe. Deeply he regretted not
having been there to lighten her burdens with his sympathy
and help in the nursing; and though, at the time of
writing, she was able to report that the little sufferers
were considered out of danger, he could not repress
a fear, amid his thankfulness, that there might be
a relapse, or the dread disease might leave behind
it, as it so often does, some lasting ill effect.